Monday, July 13, 2009
Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and the Effects of Novels on Society
A main theme of Northanger Abbey, written by Jane Austen, is the effects that reading novels can have on someone. I believe that a well written novel can affect the way someone views a subject or topic. For example, Uncle Tom's Cabin instantly caused a huge change in attitude towards African Americans and slavery in the United States. Uncle Tom's Cabin was published in 1852 and was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This novel was so powerful that it increased tensions and pushed the United States towards the Civil War. This is just one major example of the powerful effect literature can have on a society. In Northanger Abbey, Catherine gets herself into trouble when she brings out her imaginary life into the real world. Her extensive time spent reading novels caused a negative effect on some aspects of her life. I think the moral of the story is that novels can stimulate the mind and are good in moderation, just like everything else in life.
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Brett it is quite amazing the political and societal effects that a novel can have on people. On top of that the effect that someone whom has no political voice, women in the era, can actually have a voice through the pages and story of a novel and actually speak louder than any diplomat at congress. Stowe's voice was heard by the people of America and it left an impact not just on society then but throughout the centuries to come.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you and on top of that I think that it is amazing how novels open our eyes and allow us to view things in different perspective. It also allows us as the reader to understand the historical setting and political issues of that period of time.
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